Design and Digital Media

Bachelor of Science in Design and Digital Media

Design and Digital Media is a field which combines concepts of creativity, technology, marketing, and communication. As the digital platforms continue to shape the format in which people can share information, tell stories, market ideas, and build brands, there is a growing need for Design and Digital Media professionals who can create thoughtful, effective visual content across different media.

Our Design and Digital Media major provides students with hands-on experience in design, digital production, and creative problem-solving. Students work with industry-standard design software and tools and learn how to apply design skills in ways that reflect current professional practice. Software used in the program includes the industry standard Adobe Creative Cloud 鈥� Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Animate, Firefly, Media Encoder, Acrobat, and Bridge 鈥� as well as programs such as Autodesk Maya and Visual Studio Code.

Coursework is grounded in applied learning and gives students opportunities to develop, revise, and complete creative work for a range of digital and visual formats. The program is designed to help students build technical ability, strengthen creative thinking, and prepare for work in a field that continues to evolve.

Personalized Guidance

At 海角社区, students in the Design and Digital Media major work closely with the faculty throughout the program beginning in their first year, so you can obtain faculty advising which helps to guide course planning, academic progress, and long-term goal setting. This advising and working relationship gives consistent support as you navigate through the major. Faculty mentors help students identify their strengths, refine their direction, and make choices that support both portfolio development and future career goals.

What You鈥檒l Learn

Students in the Design and Digital Media major develop skills in graphic design, motion graphics, animation, digital illustration, video creation and editing, photography, web design, user experience/interface design, and visual marketing and communication. The program also introduces you to areas of interactive media and digital communication that reflect current changes in the field.

You’ll learn to use professional software and digital tools to create work for print, screen, video, and web-based environments. Along with technical skills, the curriculum helps students build a strong foundation in design principles, typography, visual storytelling, communication strategy, and creative problem-solving.

The program also emphasizes professional responsibility. You are expected to understand the ethical, legal, and social issues connected to digital media, including accessibility, originality, and responsible design practice.

Blaze Your Path

Through the Design and Digital Media program, I have been able to express my creativity. So I can reach my full potential, my professors provide support as I discover my passion for graphic design through the various courses.聽

鈥� Lindsey Arzonico

The Design and Digital Media program at 海角社区 provides hands-on experience in graphic and web design that will be useful tools for me to thrive and grow in the workforce.

鈥� Isaac Gwin

Through the Design and Digital Media classes, I鈥檝e learned about industry standards and have also been given the freedom and the chance to express myself through digital art.

鈥� Zachary Murray

Sample Courses

Digital Imaging and Design

Students use Adobe Photoshop to explore the artistic potential of imaging technology and solve visual problems. They learn how to plan and produce digital images that demonstrate an understanding of design, composition, color, and visual communication. Hands-on projects include image manipulation, photo retouching, photo montage, and text and layout techniques for digital art, ads, and publications.

Web Design

An introduction to the design, creation, and maintenance of web pages and websites. Students gain fundamental knowledge of HTML and CSS, as well as effective navigation and the appropriate use of graphics, type, color, and multimedia.

Visual Communications

The Visual Communications course is an introduction to the fundamentals of design, and it guides students through hands-on production projects that examine digital imagery, typography, color theory, and layout. The course explores the production workflow while generating creative design solutions and compelling messages.

Digital Video

Digital Video is an introduction to the phases and tools of video production. Students combine audio, video, and graphics to develop digital video projects. They become proficient in a variety of editing techniques on a timeline. Emphasis is placed on developing quality video for the web.

Publication Design

Using Adobe InDesign, this course introduces page layout and design for both print and screen. Instruction focuses on the use of type and layout as key elements in graphic communication. Students learn how to import text and imagery, arrange multi-page publications, and prepare digital files for commercial reproduction and distribution.

Advertising Design

This course provides vital advertising concepts, vocabulary, and graphic production skills for the aspiring digital media professional. Advertising Design trains students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving in terms of branding, demographics, and target marketing. Class projects expose students to a variety of media and delivery strategies as they create both individual advertisements and advertising campaigns.

Vector Illustration and Layout

Using Adobe Illustrator for vector drawing, students learn how to produce original graphics, digital illustrations, and production layouts. The course focuses on aesthetics, visual communication, principles of design, and typography. Projects include vector art, logos, ads, posters, and publications.

Sample Student Work

Field Experience and Internships

Design and Digital Media majors are required to complete 120 hours of experiential learning and internships. The knowledge, skills, and experience you gain 鈥� both in the classroom and through internships 鈥� will boost your resume and confidence with real-world work experience. Recent internship experiences include publication design, graphic design, web support, social media marketing, videography, and digital media.

Internships and Experiences

Career Opportunities

Students with a B.S. in Design and Digital Media possess the skills to seamlessly step into dynamic professional roles or opt for advanced studies in graduate school. This degree opens doors to a multitude of design and multimedia career pathways and opportunities for specialization, including but not limited to:

Multimedia artist
Graphic designer
Advertising/marketing designer
Digital illustrator/digital artist
Content strategist/content creator

Publication/layout designer
Digital media producer
Web/front-end designer
Interactive designer
Video/audio editor
Social media designer

Photographer
Digital imaging/retouching specialist
Animator
Motion graphics designer
3D modeler/visualization artist
UI/UX designer

In addition, obtaining a degree in Design and Digital Media provides individuals with valuable skills that are in high demand across multiple industries such as marketing, advertising, entertainment, and e-commerce. Whether someone is interested in branding, user experience design, content creation, or multimedia production, the opportunities are endless for those who possess expertise in web and digital media.

Artificial Intelligence in Design and Digital Media

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday practice in the design and digital media field, and students are introduced to AI in the Design and Digital Media major as a creative support tool. Students may work with AI-powered features built into Adobe platforms, such as Firefly, to support brainstorming, content development, editing, and workflow efficiency. Adobe describes its broader AI direction as one that gives creators more control, choice, and flexibility while helping them move more efficiently from idea to finished work.

In the Design and Digital Media major, AI is presented as a design partner, not a replacement for the designer. Students learn that AI is able assist with repetitive production tasks, help generate options, and support experimentation, but it does not replace creative judgment, storytelling, originality, or the ability to make thoughtful design decisions. Adobe鈥檚 public messaging around Firefly and related tools similarly emphasizes that creators remain in control of the work and that human perspective, voice, and taste still drive the outcome.

For that reason, AI is taught as something that can strengthen the design process when used responsibly. Students are expected to bring their own ideas, critical thinking, and creative direction to their work, while using AI in a way that is ethical, transparent, and supportive of original authorship. In turn, this helps prepare students for a professional environment where AI is part of the workflow, but human creativity remains central.

Meet Your Instructors

Brittany Strozzo

Assistant Professor and Chair of Studio Art/Design and Digital Media

352-787-3835 bstrozzo@beaconcollege.edu

Matthew Cupach

Senior Instructor

352-638-9760 mcupach@beaconcollege.edu

Madeline Curnan

Instructor

352-315-4383 mcurnan@beaconcollege.edu

Stephanie Portalatin

Instructor

352-764-6820 sportalatin@beaconcollege.edu

Meet Your General Education Instructors

Angel Maldonado

Dean of Curriculum and Innovation

352-315-9269 amaldonado@beaconcollege.edu

Dr. Jessica Caolo

Assistant Professor

352-315-1082 jcaolo@beaconcollege.edu

Christina Hansen

Instructor

352-764-6361 chansen@beaconcollege.edu

Dr. Patricia Konovalov

Professor

352-638-9815 pkonovalov@beaconcollege.edu

Jodi Livingston

Instructor

352-787-1525 jlivingston@beaconcollege.edu

Dr. Mary-Anne Primack

Assistant Professor

352-787-2912 mprimack@beaconcollege.edu

Autumn Welt

Assistant Professor

352-787-1056 awelt@beaconcollege.edu